GOT BEER BY TRICK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20124, 19 December 1939, Page 6

GOT BEER BY TRICK

SHOPLIFTING CHARGES YOUNG MAN IN COURT TWO YEARS' PROBATION ■'l don't think much of you, you know, as most of your actions show that you have been cunning, especially the trick in obtaining the beer,” said Mr. A. Coleman, S.M., in the Police Coi-rt thii morning to a 27-\ear-old insurance collector, whose name was suppressed. The accused was convicted and placed on probation for two years, an order being made for the restitution of the stolen articles. The accused, who was represented by Mr. A. A. Whitehead, pleaded guilty to three charges of shoplifting, the charges being that on or about May 19, he stole a bottle of lavender water and a bottle of eau-de-Cologne. valued at 12s 2d. the property of A. W. J. Mann; on or about December iG, 1938, and divers dates between then and December 8, 1939. the theft of three tins of talcum powder, three jars of face cream, a bottle of lavender water, and a bottle of lilac perfume, valued at 17s 3d, the property of I. J. Corn; on or about July 14, 1939, and on divers dates between then and December 15. 1939, the theft of a dozen bottles of beer, a pipe, a bottle of perfume, three cakes of soap, and lib of tea, valued at £1 8s 9d, the property oi Williams and Kettle, Limited. Stole Packet of Tea Senior-Sergeant J. F. Id. Macnatnara, who prosecuted, said that at 12.15 pan. on December 15 the accused went to Williams and Kettle’s store on business, and had been kept under surveillance by members of the staff, who saw him steal a lib packet of tea. A complaint was made to the police and at the invitation of the accused Detective Sergeant R. H. Waterson made a search of his house. There the officer found a quantity of cosmetics and other articles, which the accused admitted having stolen, There were also seven pairs of silk stockings that he had taken from a shop that was occupied two years ago by Mr. S. H. Phillips. However, he was not charged with the theft of the stockings because il: was not within the jurisdiction of the lower court to deal with a theft over two years old. The senior-sergeant said it was difficult -to understand what had moved the accused to commit the thefts. For the past five years he had been a collecting agent for an insurance company, and the offences covered a period of over two years. Used Docket Twice Describing the manner in which the accused had obtained the beer, Senior-Sergeant Macnamara said that he had gone to the store and purchased a quantity of ale, being given a sales docket. The next day the accused returned to the store and used the same receipt to get another consignment. Later he said that he had intended to pay for it, but it was pointed out that he had not done so Mr. Whitehead said his client could give no explanation for the offences, and that there was no- shortage of money n his house. Throughout the whole period covered by the thefts lie had not been in -good health and a doctor had given a certificate now that he was in a very nervous state. As soon as the thefts became known the accused lost his employment, but another businessman had thought highly enough of him to offer him another position. His wife was in a responsible position and on that account, combined with the fact that it was his first offence, an application was made for the suppression of the accused’s name. Mr. Coleman -said that he had received a favourable report from the probation officer. However, the three cffences could not be regarded as one act of dishonesty as they covered a long period. He decided to grant Mr. Whitehead's application for the sake of the accused’s wife.